Agriculture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what powers it has to introduce a scheme for the collection and disposal of fallen stock without the approval of Her Majesty's Government and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Allan Wilson: Agriculture is devolved therefore the Executive is solely responsible for such issues in Scotland, including the requirement to observe EU State Aid rules over funding.

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has provided to address alcohol misuse in each year since 1999 and what percentage of such funding was spent on advertising.

Mr Tom McCabe: The information requested is given in the following table. Budgets for 2004-05 have still to be agreed.

  Specific central Executive budgets to address alcohol problems from 1999 to 2004, showing proportionate spend on national advertising.

  

 Year
 Budget
 Of which spend 
  on national advertising
 % advertising 
  spend


 1999-00
 £1,361,000
 £25,000
 1.8%


 2000-01
 £1,675,299
 £496,970
 29.7%


 2001-02
 £1,605,840
 £315,086
 19.6%


 2002-03
 £2,918,622
 £1,073,516
 36.8%


 2003-04
 £2,785,458
 £785,000
 28.2%



  Funding for services addressing alcohol problems is provided within resources allocated to NHS boards and local authorities, but is not specifically identified by the Executive.

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take at a national level, other than advertising, to address (a) alcohol and (b) drug misuse.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Plan for Action on alcohol problems:

  (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/docs/paap-00.asp), sets out a range of actions under the headings of culture change, prevention and education, provision of services, protection and controls and delivery.

  The drugs strategy (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w7/tdis-00.htm) and subsequent reports identify a range of actions under the four pillars of young people, communities, treatment and availability.

Alcohol and Drug Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to collect information centrally on the level of funding allocated by NHS boards to address (a) alcohol and (b) drug misuse.

Mr Tom McCabe: Some information on the level of spend by NHS boards on addressing drug misuse is currently collected through drug action team corporate action plans, available at http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htm, and   alcohol action team local action plans, available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/health/alcoholproblems/plans.asp.

  Information on direct spend on both drugs and alcohol will be collected within combined drug and alcohol action team plans for 2004-05. However, many services, particularly for alcohol, are provided within a generic setting and funded from general allocations, and therefore expenditure cannot be separately identified by the Executive. Some information which will be collected will also cover combined addictions services, where drugs and alcohol spend cannot be separately identified.

Carers

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to section 12AA of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 as amended by the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, what monitoring is in place in respect of the notification by local authorities to carers regarding their possible entitlement to an assessment for accessing services.

Mr Tom McCabe: From 2004-05 we will be collecting data from local authorities on the numbers of carers’ assessments being carried out. We propose to build on this by collecting additional data on the numbers of carers requesting assessments. These indicators should provide a picture over time of local authority performance in ensuring that carers are made aware of their right to an assessment. Other performance indicators and outcome measures for carers will be developed in due course and we are already working closely on this with key stakeholders.

Central Heating Programme

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider providing financial assistance for the removal of asbestos from the homes of pensioners who wish to apply for central heating under its central heating installation programme.

Ms Margaret Curran: There is no provision under the terms of the central heating programme for the removal of asbestos. I currently have no plans to alter the terms of the programme.

Cities

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address concerns of West Lothian and North Lanarkshire councils that the emphasis of the city review will lead to a diminution of the role of urban economies between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Mr Jim Wallace: It would be wrong to conclude that implementation of the Review of Scotland's Cities might lead to a diminution in the role of urban economies elsewhere in Scotland – particularly in areas such as West Lothian and North Lanarkshire, whose economic success is very closely bound up with that of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

  On the contrary, the whole emphasis of our urban policy is to view cities in the context of their wider city regions. Our framework policy document for Scotland's cities – Building Better Cities – emphasises the fundamental importance of close collaboration between cities and their surrounding regions.

  Cities and their community planning partners must draw together the wider city-region view, because many of the issues to be addressed – such as economic development, land-use planning, health-care and transport – require a perspective spanning the entire city-region and beyond.

Class Sizes

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to achieve the targets of reducing class sizes to (a) 25 in P1, (b) 20 in S1 maths, (c) 20 in S2 maths, (d) 20 in S1 English and (e) 20 in S2 English.

Peter Peacock: The target date for the overarching Partnership for a Better Scotland commitments to significantly increase teacher numbers to 53,000 and associated class size commitments is August 2007.

Culture

Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the Council of Europe to publish its report on the application of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in the United Kingdom.

Peter Peacock: That report was published today, and it addresses recommendations to the UK Government on areas where the Council of Europe considers action is required to ensure that its charter obligations are met. Specific recommendations are made in relation to Scots and Gaelic.

  Progress has already been made since the Council of Europe collected the information on which its report is based. Bòrd na Gàidhlig has been established as the primary Gaelic development agency in Scotland and is channelling government funding to priority areas of Gaelic language development. The Executive has consulted on a draft Gaelic Language Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year. Steps are being taken through the Standards in Scotland’s Schools Act 2000 to improve the delivery of Gaelic Medium Education. The UK Government and the Scottish Executive are in dialogue about funding for the Gaelic Media Service. The Executive is also committed through A Partnership agreement for a Better Scotland to develop a national language strategy, which will develop a new focus for all of Scotland’s languages, including Scots. Work on the strategy will start this year.

  The implementation of the objectives and principles of the charter is a matter not only for the Executive but for local authorities and other public bodies and institutions, and the Executive expects that due recognition will be given to charter obligations at these levels. We will shortly write to all those with an interest in the charter reminding them of the UK’s obligations and what practical steps can to be taken to meet them.

  The Executive is committed to policies which will enable it to work toward meeting those charter obligations for which it has responsibility, and looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the UK’s next report to the Council of Europe.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to produce a Scottish measure of economic activity that more accurately reflects the economic activity of the people of Scotland than gross domestic product.

Mr Jim Wallace: There is not one single measure of economic activity of the people of Scotland, and the Executive already considers a range of indicators alongside gross domestic product, including for example, labour market statistics, earnings, benefit claimants and export activity.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when, and by whom, it was decided to adopt the "chain-linked" methodology for calculating gross domestic product.

Mr Jim Wallace: The introduction of annual chain-linking was recommended by the European System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA93). All member states of the EU were required to adopt this methodology by 2005.

  The Scottish Economic Statistics Programme published in Scottish Economic Statistics 2001 noted the intention to adopt the methodology for Scottish GDP. This proposal was open for consultation, and the Scottish Economics Statistics Consultants Group of external experts fully supported the decision to adopt the EU standard approach. A number of articles on the subject have been published in subsequent publications.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish gross domestic product data are produced on the same basis as English and Welsh gross domestic product data.

Mr Jim Wallace: England and Wales do not currently produce quarterly indices of GDP.

  The only GDP data available for England and Wales are from the annual regional accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics. Regional accounts include estimates of GVA for the 12 regions of the UK, including Scotland, all on the same basis.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will produce data under the new reporting method that will reflect and display the relative economic performance of Scotland and other UK regions.

Mr Jim Wallace: No other region of the UK currently produces a quarterly GDP index, so the change in methodology does not directly affect them. The Office for National Statistics produces regional analysis for all regions of the UK through the annual regional accounts exercise.

Economy

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to produce gross national product and other data that will provide informative measurements of wealth created and retained in Scotland.

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to produce gross national product data for Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: The potential for production of a measure of gross national income (the ESA95 equivalent of GNP) was considered by the Scottish Economic Statistics Consultants Group in June 2002. After considering evidence from an initial study, the group decided that it was not feasible to pursue it because of the difficulty of measurement, in particular of investment flows between Scotland and the rest of the UK. A paper summarising the reasoning behind the decision is available on the Scottish Executive website at

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/scotstats/committees/economy/meetings/sescg912003.pdf.

  Work is on-going to improve the available information on household wealth in Scotland.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report on the evaluation of the pilot projects for business learning accounts; how many such projects have been undertaken, and where they have been based.

Lewis Macdonald: The business learning account (BLA) pilots will run for two years until 2005, with evaluation on-going throughout. An interim evaluation is due in Autumn this year, with the final evaluation report due to be received in September 2005.

  Three hundred BLAs are being delivered within four pilots testing a sectoral and geographical approach. Three are within the Scottish Enterprise area and one in the Highlands and Islands using two different funding caps to establish the most effective level of support. The following table summarises the scope of the BLA pilots:

  

 
 
 £7,500 cap
 £3,500 cap


 Sectoral
 Manufacturing
 SEn Lanarkshire leading
 


 
 Tourism
 
 SEn Fife leading


 Geographical
 LEC 1
 Ross and Cromarty 
  
 


 
 LEC 2
 
 Clyde (Dunbartonshire, 
  Glasgow, Renfrewshire)

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it enforces the provisions of the Shellfish Regulatory Order applicable to Shetland.

Allan Wilson: Responsibility for enforcement of the Shetland Islands Regulated Fishery (Scotland) Order 1999 rests with the grantee, the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO).

Environment

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to initiatives with regard to (a) reducing the amount of discarded fast food containers in the street and (b) imposing a levy on (i) plastic bag and (ii) fast food container use.

Allan Wilson: A consultation paper for a Code of Practice on litter and waste for the Fast Food Industry in Scotland is currently being prepared. In the Antisocial Behaviour etc (Scotland) Bill the Executive is proposing to extend the power to issue fixed penalty notices for littering to police officers.

  There are no proposals to introduce a levy on fast food container use at present. On plastic bags, Mike Pringle MSP has issued a consultation paper about the possible introduction of a levy. The Executive is currently giving consideration to this paper. We are also having discussions with the Scottish Retail Consortium about retailers taking voluntary steps to reduce the use of plastic bags.

Environment

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many notices under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 have been served on railway authorities as occupiers of premises since May 1999 and, of these, how many have been complied with, broken down by local authority area.

Allan Wilson: This information is not held centrally. This is a matter for the local authorities concerned.

Financial Services

Colin Fox (Lothians) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of recently announced increased profits for Scottish banks, the Financial Services Strategy Group will look at any implications, in particular the impact on customers.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is not within the remit of the Financial Services Strategy Group which has been established to support the financial services sector and maximise its contribution to Scotland’s prosperity. Growing the economy is the Executive’s top priority and I am pleased to see Scottish companies succeeding in the global market.

Fisheries

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support measures for fishing communities it has implemented, showing how much has been (a) allocated and (b) disbursed under each measure in each year from 1999 to 2004, broken down by constituency.

Allan Wilson: The information is not available by constituency and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  The details for measures administered by the Scottish Executive are given in the following tables:

  

 
 1999
 2000
 2001


 
 Alloc £000's
 Spend £000's
 Alloc £000's
 Spend £000's
 Alloc £000's
 Spend £000's


 Adjustment of 
  fishing effort
 
 
 
 
 
 


 Renewal and Modernisation 
  of the fleet
 669
 333
 0
 363
 1,563
 98


 Aquaculture
 2,483
 342
 0
 280
 1,813
 555


 Processing and 
  Marketing
 1,885
 2,763
 0
 2,280
 5,844
 1,438


 Port Facilities
 575
 430
 0
 759
 1,419
 1,223


 Promotions
 275
 352
 0
 54
 0
 165


 Operations by 
  Members of the Trade
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1,451
 0


 Innovative Measures
 0
 0
 0
 0
 426
 0


 Decommissioning
 0
 0
 0
 0
 24864
 24847


 Transitional Aid
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0



  

 
 2002
 2003
 2004


 
 Alloc £000's
 Spend £000's
 Alloc £000's
 Spend £000's
 Allo £000's
 Spend £000's


 Adjustment of 
  fishing effort
 5,000
 
 
 
 
 


 Renewal and Modernisation 
  of the fleet
 1,282
 52
 906
 177
 750
 6


 Aquaculture
 1,438
 739
 1,063
 1,497
 813
 33


 Processing and 
  Marketing
 4,813
 2,673
 3,469
 2,765
 3,103
 219


 Port Facilities
 1,238
 191
 876
 292
 751
 22


 Promotions
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Operations by 
  Members of the Trade
 1,126
 436
 850
 432
 781
 0


 Innovative Measures
 331
 55
 251
 201
 344
 0


 Decommissioning
 0
 0
 31077
 28541
 0
 0


 Transitional Aid
 0
 0
 10000
 5516
 0
 0



  Note: 2003 figures for decommissioning and transitional aid are not final.

  The Smart Successful Scotland strategic framework for the enterprise networks includes a requirement to focus on rural economic development. Within this framework local enterprise companies are able to respond to local circumstances to assist with the diversification and development of changing local economies.

Fisheries

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in improving the monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries activities.

Allan Wilson: Effective monitoring, control and surveillance are critical to the operation of the Common Fisheries Policy and measures to conserve fish stocks. Towards the end of last year the European Commission drew attention to shortcomings in the United Kingdom’s control arrangements and compliance with the rules and regulations of the Common Fisheries Policy. Concerns have also been expressed by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee in England and, more recently, by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit which will report shortly on a sustainable future for the fishing industry.

  With increasing emphasis on the sustainable use of naturally occurring resources, a culture of high compliance becomes ever more important. To encourage such culture and to respond to the concerns raised by the European Commission and others, the Fisheries Departments in the UK are taking a number of measures to strengthen fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance. These include:

  consideration of moving away from the current system of criminal sanctions towards a potentially more responsive system of administrative penalties for breaches of fisheries regulations;

  improved accountability and traceability of fish landings through the designation of fish markets and the registration of all sellers and buyers of first sale fish;

  improvements in the weighing of fish before it is sold or before it leaves the port of landing for sale elsewhere;

  extending the existing arrangements for designated landing ports and for the prior notification of catch to vessels below 20 metres;

  the wider use of single area or single species licensing;

  the fitting of tamper proof satellite position reporting terminals to all vessels over 15 metres;

  the better utilisation of resources with a greater focus on land-based inspection.

  Some measures are already being put into effect and others are or will be the subject of consultation with the industry. Together the measures will complement other action that is being taken at both national and community level to safeguard fish stocks and the long term interests of the fishing industry.

  A more detailed note on the action that is being taken has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre and copies are to be sent to fishermen and other stakeholders.

Football

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether  sportscotland has advanced funding to the Highland Football Academy; what the reasons are for sportscotland’s position on this matter, and what steps it will now take to ensure that the Highland Football Academy can continue.

Mr Frank McAveety: Sportscotland has made payments to the Highland Football Academy Trust in line with the terms and conditions of the Lottery award and award of Reduction in Pool Betting Duty monies.  Sportscotland is not in a position to advance payments on behalf of the Scottish Football Partnership which is a separate, legally constituted company. It is for the partners involved in the Highland Football Academy to ensure the viability of the project.

Football

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will intervene to ensure that the Highland Football Academy receives the funding committed by sportscotland.

Mr Frank McAveety: No intervention is required. Funding awarded by  sportscotland is being paid out under the terms and conditions of the award.

Football

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Scottish Football Partnership was formally incorporated and whether the partnership is yet able to consider applications for funding and, if not, what the reasons are for the position on the matter.

Mr Frank McAveety: I am concerned that there has not been a resolution of the various difficulties over the transfer of funds from the former Football Trust to the Scottish Football Partnership. The Executive has no direct locus but has been encouraging the parties to resolve the difficulties and ensure the transfer of funds is made at the earliest opportunity. The precise nature of the difficulties are confidential matters for the trustees involved but I would hope that a resolution is not too far off and that the partnership, which was incorporated on 29 October 2001, will finally be able to contribute to the development of football at all levels.

Further and Higher Education

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many students domiciled in other areas of the United Kingdom are studying in Scottish higher education institutions and how many Scottish-domiciled students are studying in higher education institutions in other areas of the UK.

Mr Jim Wallace: In 2001-02, there were 27,223 students domiciled in other areas of the United Kingdom (excluding Scotland) studying in Scottish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and 13,044 students domiciled in Scotland studying in HEIs in other areas of the United Kingdom.

Health

Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current position is regarding the review of cardiothoracic transplants and when it intends to publish any response to the recommendations of the review.

Malcolm Chisholm: The work of the group set up to review the Scottish Heart Transplant Unit will be considered by the National Services Advisory Group when it meets in the spring, and will then be referred to me. The over-riding consideration is to provide the service which best meets the clinical needs of all the unit’s patients.

Housing

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria are for the regeneration fund for local authorities under the new funding rules.

Ms Margaret Curran: Priority for the use of this funding will be for regeneration activity that is directly linked to housing transfer proposals which have secured a place on the Community Ownership Programme. Access to the fund will be widened to include retention councils who have robust delivery plans to achieve the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) for their own stock, but who have significant areas of deprivation that have wider regeneration needs. Bids from these councils will be considered in 2005 when we see their SHQS delivery plans. Detailed criteria will be issued in due course.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it now expects to reintroduce individual learning accounts and what eligibility criteria will be applied.

Mr Jim Wallace: I set out my plans for the new Individual Learning Account scheme, to be known as ILA Scotland, to the Enterprise and Culture Committee on 27 January.

  It is intended that the new scheme will be available from summer 2004 subject to all required improvements being in place, and testing having been satisfactorily completed.

  It will initially be offered to people on incomes of up to £15,000 per year.

  A universal scheme, focused initially on basic Information, Communication Technologies skills and qualifications, will be rolled out from April 2005. It is intended that the general eligibility criteria for the universal scheme are that learners should be ordinarily resident in Scotland and aged 18 years or over.

Information Technology

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the financial benefit to business and community organisations of the roll-out of broadband.

Mr Jim Wallace: There is no estimate available on the average financial benefit to organisations from broadband. However, our Enterprise agencies have collated substantial case study evidence which illustrates the benefits broadband can bring to individual businesses. These are accessible from the following web link:

  http://www.scottish-broadband.co.uk/casestudylist.asp.

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many, and what percentage of, cases before the High Court in each of the last five years (a) up to 25, (b) 26 to 50, (c) 51 to 75, (d) 76 to 100 and (e) more than 101 witnesses have been called in total for both the preliminary and final witness lists.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Lifelong Learning

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in implementing each of the recommendations that it wholly or partially agreed with in the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee's 9th Report 2002, Final Report on Lifelong Learning.

Lewis Macdonald: The majority of the committee’s recommendations which were wholly or partially accepted have been incorporated within the 48 commitments of our Lifelong Learning Strategy for Scotland (Bib. number 26050). Progress on the strategy document was reported to the Lifelong Learning Forum at their inaugural meeting on 16 December 2003. A copy of the progress paper provided to Forum members is available from the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 31292).

Local Authorities

Alex Fergusson (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-5872 by Tavish Scott on 10 February 2004, how many local authorities exercise their right under section 43 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 to require anyone carrying on the trade of, or being employed as, a window cleaner in their area to obtain a licence and how much each such local authority charges for the licence.

Tavish Scott: This information is not held centrally.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication of the Public Health Institute of Scotland’s Needs Assessment Report on Child and Adolescent Mental Health in May 2003, whether the survey results from educational psychologists, voluntary and independent sector agencies, Children’s Panel members and the police have been published.

Mr Tom McCabe: I understand that the survey results from educational psychologists, voluntary and independent sector agencies, Children’s Panel members and the police are currently being analysed by the SNAP Research Team, who have yet to decide a timescale for publication. Although this work has been funded through the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing, the Scottish Executive is not responsible for its publication.

Mental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what protection is provided for patients in psychiatric hospitals who have known or expressed suicidal tendencies.

Malcolm Chisholm: The recommendations in Safety First (published by the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness) include in "12 Points to a Safer Service" a checklist on how best to support vulnerable patients in psychiatric hospitals, including those at risk of suicide. Safety First was issued to health boards in July 2001.

  Engaging People – Observation of People With Acute Mental Health Problems. Published in June 2002 built on Nursing Observation of Acutely ill Psychiatric Patients in Hospital. recommendations in this were disseminated to trust chief executives, service users, nursing and other staff in 2002.

  NHS boards are expected to continue to work within the framework provided by both of these publications, whilst also taking account of the provisions of Choose Life, the National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide in Scotland.

  In addition, risk management guidance published in October 2000 offered advice to NHSScotland and carers on the management and reduction of risk in mental health care and other settings. The guidance also provides advice on establishing procedures to review critical incidents where they occur.

Money Advice

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £3 million per annum made available for the provision of money advice from 2002 is being used by local authorities to provide assistance to creditors in respect of attachments and exceptional attachment orders.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Executive’s funding for money advice will cover negotiation by advisers with creditors to reach an agreement which provides the best possible outcome for the creditor and debtor alike. In some circumstances debtors seeking such advice will have experienced the diligence of attachment. In a few cases exceptional attachment orders may have been granted.

Money Advice

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local authority money advisers provide representation and assistance in respect of the completion of legal forms when debts relate to council tax arrears.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Money advisers’ practice varies across the sector, however some provide support with the completion of legal forms and court representation, including in cases of debt relating to council tax arrears. Legal aid may also be available for a solicitor to advise or represent someone with debts relating to council tax arrears, as long as they meet the legal aid statutory tests.

Museums

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to relocate appropriate items held in museums to the areas where they were originally made or discovered.

Mr Frank McAveety: Museum collections legally belong to the individual institutions that have either purchased or been given them. It would, therefore, be inappropriate for the Scottish Executive to make any plans to relocate items from one museum to another. Museums will usually respond favourably to requests to lend items from their collections to other museums for temporary exhibitions, if measures can be put in place to satisfactorily safeguard them.

  Through its support for the registration scheme, the Scottish Executive expects museums to comply with the Museums Association's Code of Ethics. This makes it clear that a museum has a duty to acquire collections honestly and responsibly and to recognise the interests of people who made, used, owned, collected or gave items. If a community were to seek restitution of an item for any reason, a museum would have a duty to deal sensitively and promptly with that request, but its principal duty would continue to be to safeguard the item and hold it in trust for society.

  However, the principle that ownership need not limit the physical accessibility of the item to the institution that owns it is now widely accepted and has guided the provision of the National Museums of Scotland’s services for many decades. There are many ways in which the National Museums of Scotland makes accessible to local communities the objects that were found there. For example, the National Museums of Scotland has an extensive loans programme, enabling objects in the national collections to be seen by the people whose local heritage these items represent.

Pay

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage action to address the issue of women being paid, on average, 16% less than men.

Ms Margaret Curran: The gender pay gap for full-time hourly earnings in Scotland was 16% in 2003, down from 19% in 2002.

  The Executive continues to be committed to working with the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Scottish Trade Union Congress and other partners in the Close the Gap campaign to raise awareness about the pay gap between women and men in Scotland and encourage activity to reduce it. This includes encouraging employers to carry out equal pay audits or reviews.

  As an employer, the Scottish Executive is leading by example. It completed a gender equal pay review in April 2003 and will have an ongoing programme of monitoring and evaluating the Executive’s pay and reward system to ensure that it is free from any form of discrimination.

Pay

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how the salaries of graduates domiciled in Scotland compare with the salaries of graduates domiciled elsewhere in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the countries which will become the European Higher Education Area in 2010 and (c) other areas of the world.

Mr Jim Wallace: (a) The average salary for graduates who were full time employees and resident in Scotland was £29,000 in 2002. The average salary for graduates who were full time employees and resident elsewhere in the United Kingdom was £32,000 in 2002.

  (b) This information is not held centrally.

  (c) This information is not held centrally.

Poverty

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what indicators of deprivation are currently in use.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive has available for use:

  the interim Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2003;

  the Scottish Index of Deprivation 1998;

  the Scottish Index of Deprivation 1995 and

  the Carstairs and Morris Scottish Deprivation Score (1991).

  In addition use has been made of benefit data such as Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance and free school meal entitlement.

Poverty

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which wards in Edinburgh and the Lothians fall within its definition of a deprived area.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive does not have a single definition of what makes an area deprived as deprivation is a multi faceted concept of which specific elements are more relevant to certain policy areas than others. However, the Interim Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation 2003 provides a ward based measure of relative area deprivation. This is available on the Scottish Executive web site at, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/social/siod-00.asp.

Public Private Partnerships

Mr Bruce McFee (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations have been made to, or received from, the European Union about PPP/PFI procurement processes and what representations it has received from other organisations or individuals about such procurement processes.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive has not received any representations from the European Commission about PPP procurement processes in Scotland. Nor is the Executive aware of any such representations made to it recently from other organisations.

Public Sector Staff

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of the decision taken by it on the request of Scottish National Heritage (SNH) that the mobility clause within the contracts of some SNH staff will not be implemented, this decision will be replicated for any other relocations of public sector departments or functions where staff of such departments or functions have a mobility clause requiring them to transfer anywhere within Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: As I explained in my response to question S2W-5568, the way in which relocations are handled will vary. Decisions that suit the circumstance of SNH may not be appropriate in the case of other organisations included in Scottish Ministers’ relocation review programme. Much depends on the circumstances of each organisation relocating and the contractual terms of its employees.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Renewable Energy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2W-5132 by Lewis Macdonald on 20 January 2003, how it judges future renewable energy requirements, given that it is unaware of the future output operation or lifespan of current base-load stations.

Lewis Macdonald: All existing base-load stations are privately owned and operated, and their future lifespan is a matter for the generation asset owners. The UK Energy white paper, published in February 2003, envisages that the energy system in 2020 will be much more diverse than it is today, with a greater mix of technologies and including imports, particularly of gas. We are determined that renewable technologies will play their full part in the future energy mix in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Shetland Islands Council about the five wind turbines north of Lerwick, the efficiency level they operate at and their potential contribution towards the Executive’s targets for renewable energy.

Lewis Macdonald: I am not aware of any specific discussions on this matter. However, I understand that the wind farm at Burradale, which was recently extended, is operating at a higher than average capacity factor, and that the project is making a welcome contribution towards our renewable generation targets.

Road Accidents

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults were killed or seriously injured in road accidents in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children were killed or seriously injured in road accidents in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996, (iv) 1997 and (v) 1998.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested can be obtained from the figures on page 140 of Road Accidents Scotland 2002 , published by the Scottish Executive in 2003, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30447).

Road Accidents

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults have been killed or seriously injured in road accidents in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last five years.

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been killed or seriously injured in road accidents in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested can be obtained from the figures on page 140 of Road Accidents Scotland 2002 , published by the Scottish Executive in 2003, copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 30447). Information for 2003 is not yet available centrally.

Roads

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies have taken place in respect of the possible displacement of individuals and properties as a result of the construction of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and what procedures are in place in respect of offering compensation and relocation for any such displacements.

Nicol Stephen: The impact on individuals and properties will be considered during the ongoing development of a preferred line. Compensation procedures will be in line with statutory provisions. An advisory pamphlet has been published.

School Curriculum

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many secondary schools offer classics at (a) standard and (b) higher grade, broken down by local authority.

Peter Peacock: The term "classics" is used by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to refer to classical studies, Latin and classical Greek. All publicly funded secondary schools in Scotland are approved by the SQA to offer national qualifications courses in these subjects.

  The number of publicly funded secondary schools, by education authority, who presented at least one pupil for these courses in the 2003 exam diet is as follows:

  

 
 Standard 
  Grade
 Intermediate 
  1
 Intermediate 
  2
 Higher
 Advanced 
  Higher


 Aberdeen City
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Angus
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Argyll and Bute
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dundee City
 2
 0
 2
 3
 1


 East Lothian
 3
 0
 1
 3
 1


 Edinburgh City
 3
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Eilean Siar
 1
 0
 0
 1
 1


 Falkirk
 3
 1
 2
 3
 1


 Fife
 4
 1
 2
 5
 3


 Glasgow City
 4
 0
 4
 5
 0


 Highland
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0


 Inverclyde
 1
 0
 0
 1
 1


 North Ayrshire
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0


 North Lanarkshire
 2
 0
 2
 3
 0


 Orkney Islands
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 1
 0
 1
 2
 1


 Renfrewshire
 2
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Scottish Borders
 1
 0
 1
 2
 0


 South Lanarkshire
 3
 1
 1
 3
 1


 Stirling
 0
 1
 0
 1
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 1
 0
 1
 1
 1


 Scotland
 35
 4
 19
 42
 11

Scottish Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it was consulted by the Sector Skills Development Agency about the appointment of two partnership managers, their remit, how they will interface with the enterprise network and the funding arrangements for the posts.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive has been fully consulted by the Sector Skills Development Agency about the intention to appoint two partnership manager posts for Scotland. We, along with key Scottish stakeholders, including the enterprise networks, have been fully involved in the development of the specific roles for these two posts. Funding of the proposed posts is a matter for the Sector Skills Development Agency.

Security Industry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in extending the remit of the Security Industry Authority to include Scotland and how it will consult the Scottish security industry on the new arrangements, particularly in relation to training.

Cathy Jamieson: The Home Secretary is aware that we are keen to make early progress in extending the remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to include Scotland and Whitehall officials are pursuing a number of potential vehicles for making the necessary legislative changes. The Queen’s Speech in November will set out the legislative programme for 2004-05 and it is only then that we will be able to confirm if the proposals have been included in the next session.

  My officials and the Scottish Qualifications Authority are working with the SIA on the detail of how training will be organised in Scotland. Consideration is also being given to the strategy for consulting and working with the Scottish industry, once the SIA has a formal role in Scotland.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which wards in Edinburgh and the Lothians currently qualify for a social inclusion partnership (SIP).

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:-

  There are seven SIPs in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Craigmillar, north and south Edinburgh, the Edinburgh Strategic Programme - includes Oxgangs, Broomhouse, Prestonfield, Southside, Lochend and Leith, Edinburgh Youth together with West Lothian and Tranent. The following table shows the wards associated with each of the SIPs, although SIP boundaries may only include parts of a ward.

  

 Social Inclusion Partnership
 Ward


 Craigmillar
 Craigmillar and Duddingston.


 North Edinburgh
 Pilton, Granton, Muirhouse/Drylaw.


 South Edinburgh
 Moredun, Alnwickhill, Kaimes 
  and Gilmerton.


 Strategic Programme
 Prestonfield, Sighthill, Parkhead, 
  Stenhouse, Southside, Holyrood, Tolcross, Calton, Harbour, 
  Lorne, Newhaven, Restalrig and Firrhill.


 Edinburgh Youth (thematic)
 City-wide


 West Lothian (thematic)
 Council wide


 Tranent (thematic)
 Tranent/Macmerry, Tranent/Elphinstone, 
  Tranent West and Ormiston/Pencaitland.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive , further to the answer to question S2W-5141 by Peter Peacock on February 2004 and the point of order by Euan Robson on 13 November 2003 ( Official Report , c 3234), whether the full report, with its recommendations, was not sent to Scottish Borders Council a week after 13 November 2003 as stated by Euan Robson and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Peter Peacock: The full report, including analysis and conclusions, was sent to Scottish Borders Council the week following 13 November 2003. The council provided the Social Work Services Inspectorate with written comments on 24 December 2003. These comments are being taken into account in the finalisation of the report. No date has been set for publication.

Social Work

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report by the Mental Welfare Commission on the Miss X case will be published.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Mental Welfare Commission does not propose to publish a report on the Miss X case. A very brief anonymised summary of the case, with the Commission’s findings and its recommendations, will be available on its website next month.

Student Finance

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to alleviate student hardship in (a) higher education institutions and (b) further education colleges.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table gives the amount of Hardship Funds, Hardship Loans and Mature Students’ Bursary Funds (MSBF) allocated to both further and higher education institutions and the amount of Young Students’ Retention Fund (YSRF) allocated to further education institutions in 2003-04.

  

 
 Further Education 
  Colleges
 Higher Education 
  Institutes
 


 
 FE Students
 HE Students
 Undergraduate
Students
 Postgraduate
Students
 Total


 Hardship Funds
 £3,518,452
 £279,644
 £2,989,356
 £1,239,828
 £8,027,280


 Hardship Loans
 n/a
 £275,100
 £717,400
 n/a
 £992,500


 MSBF 
 n/a
 £4,432,664
 £4,267,336
 n/a
 £8,700,000


 YSRF 
 £1,679,360
 n/a
 n/a
 n/a
 £1,679,360


 
 
 
 
 
 £19,399,140

Sustainable Scotland

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will appoint external members to the cabinet sub-committee on sustainable Scotland.

Allan Wilson: Cabinet has agreed to appoint three external members to the cabinet sub committee on sustainable Scotland. I am sure that Jan Bebbington, Professor of Accountancy and Finance, University of Aberdeen; Ian Good, Chairman of the Edrington Group; and Simon Pepper, Director of WWF Scotland, will bring a useful external perspective and challenge to the work of the sub committee.

Teacher Training

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers qualified in the last year and how many teachers it expects to qualify in each year up to 2007 with an (a) Bachelor of Education and (b) Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

Peter Peacock: Information on how many teachers qualified in session 2002-03 and projections of how many teachers are expected to qualify in each year up to 2007 with an (a) Bachelor of Education (BEd) and (b) Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is shown in the table:

  

 
 Year
 BEd
 PGCE
 Total


 Actual
 2002-03
 586
 1,500
 2,086


 Projections*
 2003-04
 690
 1,740
 2,430


 2004-05
 680
 1,980
 2,660


 2005-06
 740
 2,650
 3,390


 2006-07
 700
 2,530
 3,230


 
 Total
 3,396
 10,400
 13,796



  Note: *Rounded to the nearest 10.

Teacher Training

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of teacher training graduates (a) qualified from teacher training colleges in each year since 1995 and (b) it expects to qualify from teacher training colleges in each year up to 2007.

Peter Peacock: The table shows initial teacher education college graduates as a proportion of all initial teacher education graduates in Scotland, for each year from 1994-95 to 2001-02:

  

 
 1994-95
 1995-96
 1996-97
 1997-98
 1998-99
 1999-
2000
 2000-01
 2001-02


 ITE Colleges/All 
  ITE (%) 
 53
 58
 57
 57
 35
 19
 19
 0


 ITE Universities/All 
  ITE (%) 
 47
 42
 43
 43
 65
 81
 81
 100



  By 2001-02 all colleges of education had merged with a university and future projections are therefore not relevant.

Teacher Training

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional academic staff are being recruited for the purpose of training teachers as part of the expansion of initial teacher training announced in its press release SEed539/2004 on 23 February 2004.

Mr Jim Wallace: This information is not held centrally. Staff recruitment is a matter for individual higher education institutions.

Teacher Training

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to change the content and delivery of initial teacher education.

Peter Peacock: The current review of initial teacher education is addressing, among other things, both these aspects. The review group is expected to report to me by the end of March 2004 or shortly thereafter.

Teachers

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers were suspended from duty in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area and type of school.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Teachers

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many classroom hours were lost through teachers’ suspension in the last 12 months, broken down by local authority area and type of school.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Teachers

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by each local authority over the last 12 months on supply cover for teachers suspended from duty.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is not held centrally.

Transport

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of passengers using Newcraighall and Brunstane stations arrive at the stations (a) by public transport, (b) by private car, (c) on foot and (d) by bicycle.

Nicol Stephen: This information is not held centrally.

Transport

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) in respect of improving the traceability of second-hand cars after the point of sale.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues including operational matters for the DVLA on a UK wide basis.

Waste Management

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria it will apply to reach its final decision on the application by Eden Waste Recycling Ltd for a landfill site in the Greengairs area.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The Scottish ministers will seek to ensure that the Section 75 Agreement between North Lanarkshire Council and the applicant has been concluded to their satisfaction and that it has been entered in the Register of Sasines. They will also take account of any representations received.

Waste Management

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a final decision on the Reporter's findings and recommendations in respect of Eden Waste Recycling Ltd's application for the Greengairs area.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: A letter of intention to grant planning permission to Eden Waste Recycling was issued on 5 February. This indicated that formal planning permission would not be issued until the satisfactory conclusion of an agreement, between North Lanarkshire Council and the applicant, which requires the provision of a restoration bond. An initial period of three months has been allowed to complete the agreement.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in relation to any legislative measure that would seek to ban the use of lead in shot, it will, together with appropriate representative bodies such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, undertake a scientific study into any effect of ingested lead by using nets to catch birds from a variety of sites, both inland and coastal, and taking blood samples from them before releasing them back into the wild.

Allan Wilson: No.

  Long-term research into the toxic effects of lead has established that it is a poison that can affect the development, reproduction and survival of a wide range of species, including humans. I see no benefit from undertaking further research along the lines proposed.

Wildlife

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will rule out any ban on the use of lead shot that applied to particular species, in particular those not currently protected by law.

Allan Wilson: As outlined in the Scottish consultation paper, Restriction on Use of Lead Shot in Scotland of July 2001 the Scottish Executive aims to ban the use of leadshot over wetland areas and intends to introduce legislation on this issue in 2004. It is not expected that the legislation will specify any particular species.

Wind Farms

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received regarding the proposed wind farm at Whiteless Forest near Eaglesham.

Lewis Macdonald: We consulted widely in compliance with statutory requirements.

  Representations were received from the following:

  

 BAA plc 


 British Telecom Diversionary Works Planning


 Civil Aviation Authority Directorate of 
  Airspace Policy


 Crown Estate


 Department of Trade and Industry


 East Renfrewshire Council


 Eaglesham Community Council


 East Ayrshire Council


 Glasgow Archaeological Society


 Health and Safety Executive


 Historic Scotland


 Met Office


 Ministry of Defence


 National Air Traffic Services


 NTL


 Royal Air Force


 Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland


 Scottish Civic Trust


 Scottish Cyclists’ Union


 Scottish Environmental Protection Agency


 Scottish Natural Heritage


 Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society


 South Lanarkshire Council


 Stewartfield Community Council


 Strathclyde Gliding Club


 Wind And Turbines Can’t Happen (WATCH)


 West of Scotland Archaeology Service



  A further consultation was undertaken in November 2003 after Scottish Power made changes to their original environmental statement. Further representations were received from:

  

 British Telecommunications Radio Solutions 
  Unit


 Glasgow Prestwick International Airport


 Scottish Water



  In addition, the public consultation period for the original application ended on 29 February 2002 and 50 objections and six letters of support were received. A further six objections were received in respect of the additional information consultation.

Windfarms

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision with regard to the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest near Eaglesham.

Lewis Macdonald: The issues raised in the course of the consultation are still under consideration. A number of fundamental planning issues remain to be resolved and no decision will be made until they are resolved or alternatively it becomes clear that they cannot be resolved in a way that complies with national planning policy guidelines.

Windfarms

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been made aware of any possible danger of noise as a result of the rotation of the blades at the proposed wind farm at Whitelee Forest near Eaglesham.

Lewis Macdonald: The Energy Technology Support Unit produced the Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms report in September 1996 on behalf of the DTI. The guidance in this report has been widely adopted by the wind farm industry when assessing noise impact.

  Scottish Power has conducted its own noise assessment at the Whitelee site in accordance with these guidelines. The environmental statement produced in support of this application commits to ongoing noise monitoring and, where necessary, mitigation measures. Should Scottish ministers be minded to grant consent to this proposal, this commitment will be secured by condition.

  The potential for noise impact will be a material consideration in determining the Whitelee application as it is for all wind farm sites.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the terms of clause 1.5.4 of the contract between it and EMBT/RMJM, that makes provision for the cost of travel to and from the United Kingdom and Barcelona, have been implemented and not departed from or breached.

Mr George Reid: The convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has confirmed that at no time have we paid EMBT/RMJM for the cost of travel between offices, whether in the UK or Barcelona.

Holyrood Project

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether (a) it, (b) the office of the Presiding Officer, (c) the Chief Executive of the Parliament or (d) the Holyrood Project Group has been advised that the practical completion of the Holyrood project is not likely to be by the intended date of July 2004 and, if so, from whom such advice has been received and whether it will be made public.

Mr George Reid: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Presiding Officer, the Chief Executive and the Holyrood Progress Group, rely on advice from the Construction Manager about the achievability of the programme for building completion. The convener of the Holyrood Progress Group has informed me the latest advice from Bovis is that the July target date is achievable. That advice was made public in Parliamentary News Release 010/2004 on Tuesday 24 February about the last report to the Finance Committee.

New Parliament Building

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what arrangements there will be in the new Parliament building to support MSPs and their staff who are breast-feeding.

Mr George Reid: : The new accommodation in Holyrood provides space for two baby changing/nursing mother rooms. The room designated for use by MSPs and all Parliament staff is located adjacent to the MSP/staff restaurant at garden level, and the room for the public is located within the crèche. Each room will have an en-suite WC/wash-hand basin compartment and a mobile changing trolley.

New Parliament Building

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what provision there will be in the new Parliament building for Parliament staff who are breast-feeding.

Mr George Reid: : The new accommodation in Holyrood provides space for two baby changing/nursing mother rooms. The room designated for use by MSPs and all Parliament staff is located adjacent to the MSP/staff restaurant at garden level, and the room for the public is located within the crèche. Each room will have an en-suite WC/wash-hand basin compartment and a mobile changing trolley.

New Parliament Building

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Presiding Officer what arrangements there will be in the new Parliament building to ensure compliance with appropriate health and safety guidelines for workplace provision for new and expectant mothers.

Mr George Reid: : Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 employers are required to provide suitable facilities for employees who are pregnant or breastfeeding to rest. I am informed by the convener of the Holyrood Progress Group that three first aid rooms will be available at Holyrood which can be used for rest purposes. All three rooms will be fitted with running water and chiller units to provide a suitable environment for nursing mothers to breastfeed and to express and store milk if required.

Scottish Parliament Security Clearance

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what has been the (a) shortest, (b) average and (c) longest wait for security clearance for a new member of staff who is a UK citizen.

Mr George Reid: The information requested (in working days) is set out below:

  

 MSP Staff
 SPCB Staff


 (a) 2 days
 (a) 2 days


 (b) 14 days
 (b) 15 days


 (c) 152 days
 (c) 76 days

Scottish Parliament Security Clearance

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether new members of staff who are UK citizens have been told that security clearance will take three months and, if so, for what reason.

Mr George Reid: All who require regular access to the Parliament must satisfy the security checks conducted via the Security Office. These checks take an average of 14/15 working days after the completed security questionnaire is submitted. Any delay depends on the information provided by staff so it is not possible to forecast how long a clearance will take to complete. Irrespective of the circumstances no one has been told that their clearance would take three months.